Emission testing, need advice.

Motorhead350

Motorhead350

New member
My car keeps rejecting the system... HA. In other words it will not fail, the computer will not read. We discussed to go back to stock, but last week I had an issue with the Xcal2 and I fear the worst, maybe not the worst, but it's pretty bad. I plugged in the tuner, it made the noise when it turns on with no display. So I disconnected the tuner, plugged it back in and got NOTHING. It would not turn on or make the "turn on" noise.

The only way it could be worse would be if I went back to stock running horribly and could not return it to what Zack setup.

Now the car has to go to a garage with a receipt saying what's wrong. I know the tune has bypassed the O2 sensors and a few other things to run perfect as is. So now I cannot turn it back to stock because my Xcal2 is not functioning.

Is there any other option other than buying another tuner and setting up a dyno tune for emissions? Actually going into a shop. I fear this is the only way to pass and this could mean big bucks. I also fear I will lose the current tune (which is GREAT) and I do not wanna lose that tune if I need a new Xcal and dyno tune.... but my dumbass is thinking it's the only thing I can do.

Opinions please.

Thank you.
 
Your only cheap option, after you address your connection issue, is return the car to stock. Tim has been working on mine as well as many others for over a month and is close to a cure, so I hope.. My plates expired in Oct...


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Anyone of you IL guys try the thing I did to get emissions exempt yet? I wanna see if it worked for you guys too if you decided to go that route. justbob you should really be able to get the exemption on your car with all the stuff done to it
 
ajdereicup said:
Anyone of you IL guys try the thing I did to get emissions exempt yet? I wanna see if it worked for you guys too if you decided to go that route. justbob you should really be able to get the exemption on your car with all the stuff done to it
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I drive too much to do that, but thanks for the suggestion.
 
ajdereicup said:
No mileage limit if you fill it out right. :dunno:
Click to expand...

From all I have read and phone conversations with the IL emissions and the USEPA the following is quite clear.

Show car: must say so clearly on the declaration page from your carrier, not just your agent, that it is only insured to go to shows, and to return home. Kinda hard to explain that one at midnight.

Race car: even easier, car is no longer legal for street use, and is trailered. Even harder to explain, at any time.

I know you went for race car status, but if I were you I would seriously be investigating whether or not you are insured if in a wreck and found guilty of disobeying limitations set fourth in your policy. The ones I have spoken to are high up on the ladder and actually took their time addressing my special issue, the issue that is not addressed, converting to a manual. IL had zero answer as its a grey area, they referred me to USEPA who actually only has one guy in charge. Super nice guy, well informed, and agreed fully that it is a grey area. He replied that they would have to look at it as tampering, the most generic of all..

He went over some options with me that I don't qualify for (hardship mostly), and gave me a number for "outreach", a tech line ran by master mechanics that only accepts calls from ASE certified mechs regarding vehicles that refuse to pass. He went on to say that they may indeed deem it good to go and I would be exempt for those particular CELS after I prove all monitors are functioning, OR he said they could be bullheaded and require the automatic be reinstalled as certain trans sensors do in fact impact emissions (torque load). He has seen it go both ways for others with special circumstances.

Seriously, look into your insurance, way too many $100,000.00 cars out there to collide with, and I'm not jeopardizing my home in a lawsuit over a dumb car.

BTW You went by me on swift road a couple months back. Sounded mean man.




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So go to a mechanic and get paper work saying the car is ok? It will be hard to sell that to the emissions people when my computer will not communicate. There are ten things to communicate with, two of which are working, the rest is not. So it's not like my computer system is 100% failing, 20% is.

In the end, I think it's in the tune. The only solution seems to be to get a few tune to get the EPA to F-off and change it back after it passes.

Is this the best solution?
 
Motorhead350 said:
So go to a mechanic and get paper work saying the car is ok? It will be hard to sell that to the emissions people when my computer will not communicate. There are ten things to communicate with, two of which are working, the rest is not. So it's not like my computer system is 100% failing, 20% is.

In the end, I think it's in the tune. The only solution seems to be to get a few tune to get the EPA to F-off and change it back after it passes.

Is this the best solution?
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So you don't have a communication issue?? I'm confused..

You say 20% working. Do you mean to say "supported" or "ready"? Next question obviously 80% (or 8 monitors) "not supported" or "not ready"?

Communication is just that, if it didn't communicate, it wouldn't tell you squat.

If any of this is true then give up, it's in the tune and turned off. You will need a revised tune or a stock one.


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Dom..Just move. No emissions BS here in Florida and other states.

If you live in the regulation states, you get what you get.
 
Here are my test results....

Comprehensive Component Ready

Fuel System Performance Ready

The rest are NOT SUPPORTED....

Engine Misfire, A/C Refridgerant, EGR Flow, Catalytic Converter EFF, Heated Catalyst, Evaporative Control System, Heated Oxygen Sensor, Oxygen Sensor, Secondary Air System... All NOT SUPPORTED.

Also, my Xcal2 is not working at all now. It will not turn on.

There is a OBD fuse or something I need to look for? Is there a way to test the tuner to see if it will still turn on? I bet it's car. I have been having some electric issues lately.

Thanks for your help guys!
 
Hmmmm very interesting. I was worried that if I did it as a race car when I walked into the DMV they wouldn't give me the renewal sticker because they'd consider it not a street car but when they gave it to me I didn't even give it a second thought and they probably just have it as emissions not needed or something not that it isn't a street car? I need to look into my insurance policy stuff like you said try and figure it out to make sure I'm good.

Thanks man I didn't see you must've not been in the MM
 
You need them set to supported. Nonsupported doesn't fly with the testing centers anymore. I don't remember exactly which ones they look for but there's specific ones. Let me try and find my sheet I think he circled which ones are needed
 
So, I could tell a tuner "Turn this EPA crap-o-la on for testing in a new tune." and I should be good? I literally just need this crap turned on?
 
Motorhead350 said:
Here are my test results....

Comprehensive Component Ready

Fuel System Performance Ready

The rest are NOT SUPPORTED....

Engine Misfire, A/C Refridgerant, EGR Flow, Catalytic Converter EFF, Heated Catalyst, Evaporative Control System, Heated Oxygen Sensor, Oxygen Sensor, Secondary Air System... All NOT SUPPORTED.

Also, my Xcal2 is not working at all now. It will not turn on.

There is a OBD fuse or something I need to look for? Is there a way to test the tuner to see if it will still turn on? I bet it's car. I have been having some electric issues lately.

Thanks for your help guys!
Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong with the car. Not an electrical issue, not a fuse, nothing.

The not supported readiness monitors, ALL in your case are turned off in the tune!

Call the dealer and see how much a factory reflash is if your not talking to Zack anymore? Probably cheapest route. Next up is a new tune.

Do you understand what a monitor does and why they check them and not your exhaust anymore?


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Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
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Motorhead350 said:
So, I could tell a tuner "Turn this EPA crap-o-la on for testing in a new tune." and I should be good? I literally just need this crap turned on?
Click to expand...

Correct. Stand in the very long line. My case, five weeks..

Mike said he knows how. PM me if you haven't a clue who Mike is.

Tim said he is down to just figuring out the Evap monitor and his tune should be good as well.


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Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
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justbob said:
There is nothing wrong with the car. Not an electrical issue, not a fuse, nothing.

The not supported readiness monitors, ALL in your case are turned off in the tune!

Call the dealer and see how much a factory reflash is if your not talking to Zack anymore? Probably cheapest route. Next up is a new tune.

Do you understand what a monitor does and why they check them and not your exhaust anymore?


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"
Click to expand...

The only problem with this is my tuner decided to quit working. So even if the dealer returned it to stock, I do not think I can get my current tune back in unless Zack emails it to me and I find a way to get another tuner, upload the Zack tune back into the new tuner and get it back in the car.

Is there a way to see what's wrong with my Xcal? It will not turn on all anyway.

Zack is out of the question though. EDIT: Let's leave it at that.
 
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If you have the cable, connect the tuner to your pc/laptop and see if it turns on. You can then rule out the OBD port or cable.
 
ajdereicup said:
You need them set to supported. Nonsupported doesn't fly with the testing centers anymore. I don't remember exactly which ones they look for but there's specific ones. Let me try and find my sheet I think he circled which ones are needed
Click to expand...

I would be very curious as well to see the sheet. I know not all OBD2 cars need every single monitor supported, some can also be not ready, but I also know the EGR and O2 If I recall must be ready at the test. I believe the MM uses nine of them.


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